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North Johnston mourns drowning victim

Erin Peoples is pictured with boyfriend Austin "Catfish" Potter, who is originally from Kenly. Potter drowned May 14 at Atlantic Beach while attempting to rescue Peoples' 5-year-old son, who also drowned.

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Posted
Monday, May 20, 2019 9:41 pm

By Keith Barnes

kbarnes.jhn@wilsontimes.com | 919-710-5549

KENLY — The North Johnston High School community is mourning the loss of Austin “Catfish” Potter, who drowned May 14 in Atlantic Beach while trying to rescue his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son.

Potter, 24, who was living in Havelock and previously lived in Kenly, is a 2013 North Johnston High graduate.

Chris Batten, who coached Potter in basketball for three years at North Johnston, said Potter was “a good kid.”

“Chris was laid back and a regular, down-to-earth guy,” said Batten. “He got along with everybody and did not have any enemies. He just enjoyed being with the guys and being a part of the team.”

Batten said Potter had been known as “Catfish” for as long as he could remember.

Investigators said Potter died when he got caught in a rip current trying to rescue the boy, according to the Associated Press.

Rescuers found Potter floating face-down and brought him and the 5-year-old to a local hospital where both victims were pronounced dead, the AP reported.

Tim Harrell, who was principal at North Johnston when Potter was a student there, said he felt “very sad” to hear news of Potter’s death.

“He was a great young man and always did what he was expected to do,” said Harrell. “He was a friend of everyone and always had a smile on his face.”

“The North Johnston community has always been very close,” Harrell added, and this hurts us all.”